Game apparatus



P. STERICK.

(No Model.)

GAME APPARATUS.

Patented May 3, 1892.

Imam/2 0 me owns Ferias ca., moro-urna.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIKCE.

SYLV ESTER T. F. STERICK, OF GAITI-IERSBURG, MARYLAND.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,310, datedV May 3,1892. Application filed February 15,1892. Serial No. 421,584. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER T. F. STER- ICK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gaithersburg, in the county of Montgomery and Stateof Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GameApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled 1n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

.Myinvention relates to improvements in devices for playing games, andhas for its object the provision of a device which will be both usefuland instructive, as well as affording much amusement to children andothers 1n playing what are known as games of chance, reference being hadtothe accompanylug drawings, in which like letters refer to likepartsthroughout the several views.

Figure l is a vertical section of the entire device. Fig. 2 is a planview of the lower compartment thereof, and Fig. 3 is a similar View ofthe box or case with the upper section removed.

A represents a box or case provided with a diaphragm B, having a raisedcentral portion and downward inclines b, this diaphragm being cut out atits edge to form recesses h.

O is the lower compartment of the box or case provided with a series ofpartitions c.

I) represents a cover to the box or case, which is provided with avertical tubular extension d and has depending from said extension achute or hopper E. Said hopper is partially closed at the top by across-strip e, as shown in Fig. l..

Sleeved upon extension d is a revoluble cyl 4inder F, having adownwardly-inclined diaphragm f. Over the top of the part F may beplaced a cap or cover G.

To operate the device, the cap G, if such be employed, is removed and anumber of marbles are placed upon the cross-strip c, said marbles beingprevented from rolling off said strip by the lower end of the inclineddiaphragm f. By turning sleeve F the lower end of the diaphragm will becaused to pass over strip e and push the marbles off from the same andpermit them to fall down through chute E onto the diaphragm ordownwardly-inclined plate B. As they fall upon the plate the marbles arecaused to fall in various directions by the inclined portions thereofand escape through the recesses between the edges of said plate and thewall of the case into the various chambers of the compartment below.

As I have Shown the compartments the chambers are arranged for playingwhat I denominate the game of Stock-Farm. For instance, as shown in Fig.2, one of the compartments is marked Horses, another Cows, another Pigs,another Sheep, and another Fowls As will be readily apparent, themarbles as they drop from the upper section of the device will pursue anerratic coursethat is, they will fall in various directions* and somewill drop into one chamber of the compartment and some into others, asthey chance to fall. By having a chart or card of instructions for thegame representing the value of the various animals, whose names arcplaced upon the chambers, the player can readily compute and ascertainhow much he has acquired by his use of the device. The next player willdo the same, and so on, and after a number of games have been played theplayer having the most value to his credit wins.

While I have arbitrarily selected the names of animals ascharacteristics for the various chambers of the lower compartment, yet Ido not wish to be limited thereto, as it is obvious that various otherobjects or devices could be marked upon the compartments, as choice orfancy may suggest. Y

I am aware that some of the devices I have illustrated and described arenot broadly new-as, for instance, the lower compartment provided with aseries of chambers to receive the marbles. The upper section of mydeviceand the intermediate section provided with the downwardly-inclineddiaphragm are, however, so far as I am aware, novel. Thedownwardly-inclined diaphragm f serves two functions-that of guiding themarbles upon the strip e and of discharging them therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, s-

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a caseprovided with a downwardly-inclined diaphragm, a compartment dividedinto a series of chambers below said IOO diaphragm, an upper sectioncontaining marbles, having a strip or partition across its top, and arevoluble cap or sleeve mounted on the upper section and providedwith adevice for pushing4 the marbles off from the partition, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a easehaving a downwardly-inciined diaphragm recessed at its edge,0f

Io a lower compartment havingaseries of chaml bers, a cap or sleeve tothe case provided with a tubular extension, a chute depending` from saidextension and having its top partially closed by a strip, and arevoiubie cap having a downwardly-inclined diaphragm, substan- 15 tiallyas described.

SYLVESTER T. F. STERICK.

Witnesses:

E. M. DAWSON, G. M. COPENHAVER,

